NFL roundup: Upstart Colts stun mighty Packers

Monday

Oct 8, 2012 at 2:00 AM

INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck capped a second-half comeback by throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 35 seconds to go that gave Indianapolis a stunning 30-27 victory over Green Bay on Sunday in the Colts' first game without coach Chuck Pagano.

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck capped a second-half comeback by throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 35 seconds to go that gave Indianapolis a stunning 30-27 victory over Green Bay on Sunday in the Colts' first game without coach Chuck Pagano.

Green Bay (2-3) had a chance to force overtime, but Mason Crosby missed a 51-yard field goal with 3 seconds to go. Luck then took a knee and time ran out and the team celebrated. Missing was Pagano, who is in a hospital undergoing treatment for leukemia that was recently diagnosed.

Luck came through with just what Pagano wanted — getting the Colts (2-2) to .500. And they did it despite trailing 21-3 at halftime.

After Adam Vinatieri gave Indy its first lead at 22-21 with a 28-yard field goal, Aaron Rodgers threw an 8-yard TD pass to James Jones to make it 27-22 with 4:30 left before the Colts rallied.

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees broke a half-century-old NFL record by throwing a touchdown pass in his 48th straight game, and New Orleans beat San Diego for its first win of the season.

Brees’ 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson eclipsed the mark of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass set by Johnny Unitas from 1956-60.

Brees’ also had three scoring strikes to Marques Colston, giving him a franchise-record 52 touchdown catches with the Saints (1-4).

At Brees’ request, the NFL allowed head coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis – all serving various suspensions in connection with the NFL’s bounty investigation – to attend the game. They and Johnny Unitas son, Joe, saw Brees pass for 370 yards.

Philip Rivers passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers (3-2), but had an interception and fumble in the final quarter.

PITTSBURGH — Shaun Suisham hit a 34-yard field goal as time expired to lift Pittsburgh.

The Eagles (3-2) took the lead on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Brent Celek with 6:33 remaining, but the Steelers responded by driving 64 yards, including a pair of key third-down conversions by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, to set up the winning kick.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall ran for 81 yards and a touchdown in his first game of the season for the Steelers (2-2).

Vick completed 20-of-30 passes for 175 yards and two scores but fumbled twice.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady won his latest showdown with Peyton Manning with the help of a career-high 151 yards rushing from Stevan Ridley and New England beat Denver.

Brady directed four scoring marches of at least 80 yards and the Patriots rushed for 252 yards.

Brady improved to 9-4 against Manning, He completed 23 of 31 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown and ran for another. Manning was 31-of-44 for 345 yards and three touchdowns but lost a fumble on a third-quarter sack.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ray Rice ran for 101 yards, Justin Tucker made all three of his field goal attempts and the Baltimore defense kept Kansas City out of the end zone in the fourth quarter to preserve a victory.

Joe Flacco threw for 187 yards and was picked off once, but the Ravens (4-1) were still able to come up with enough points to beat the Chiefs (1-4).

LANDOVER, Md. — Michael Turner ran 13 yards for the go-ahead score with 2:46 to play, and Atlanta knocked Robert Griffin III out of the game in a win over Washington.

Miami (2-3) had dropped its past two games in overtime. The Dolphins held on against the Bengals (3-2), who never got anything going consistently on offense and wasted a chance for a tighter finish. The Bengals got the ball at their 20 following a punt with 1:45 to go, but Dalton's second interception sealed it.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs returned interceptions for touchdowns — their second in six days — and Chicago used stifling defense to overwhelm Jacksonville.

The Bears (4-1) scored 38 unanswered points, including 35 in the second half, to win their third consecutive game. The streak has everything to do with defense.

SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Smith threw for a season-high 303 yards and three touchdowns, Frank Gore ran for 106 yards and a score, and San Francisco amassed a franchise-record 621 yards in blowing by Buffalo.

Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis each eclipsed 100 yards receiving to back Smith, who threw TD passes of 43, 28 and 10 yards and surpassed 300 yards passing for only the third time in his career.

MINNEAPOLIS — Percy Harvin pounded his way through Tennessee's defense for one touchdown rushing and another receiving in helping Minnesota to a victory over the Titans.

Harvin caught eight passes for 108 yards for the Vikings (4-1).

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Russell Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate with 35 seconds left in the third quarter to help Seattle beat Carolina.

Wilson shook off two third quarter interceptions — including one that was returned for a touchdown — and outperformed Cam Newton on a struggle-filled day for the Carolina offense.